VIDEO: Mainland wraps up conference title by sinking WCA behind big second half

Posted: January 30th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

NORTH WILDWOOD – Sydney Stokes and the Mainland Regional High School girls basketball team saved their best for the second half Tuesday evening.

Stokes poured in 15 of her 17 points after the break and the Mustangs turned a one-point halftime lead into a 60-44 victory over Wildwood Catholic Academy in a contest that featured arguably the two best teams in South Jersey.

“Give Mainland credit,” Wildwood Catholic coach Steve DiPatri said. “They played a great game, and they played a fantastic second half.”

Ahead by seven with the ball late in the third quarter, the Mustangs took more than a minute off the clock before ending the possession with a layup by Stokes, who was fouled on the play. She sank the free throw to up her team’s lead to 10 points. Wildwood Catholic, which made just one field goal over the first 10 ½ minutes of the second half, got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Stokes was one of four Mainland players in double figures. Bella Mazur led all scorers with 19 points, Ava Mazur sank 13 points and Kasey Bretones shook off a slow start to finish with 11 points.

Mainland (19-0 overall, 10-0 Cape-Atlantic American Conference) clinched the conference title with the victory. The Mustangs also locked up the top seed for the CAL playoff tournament, which begins next week. Mainland is the defending CAL playoff tournament champion.

Wildwood Catholic’s only two losses this season have come at the hands of Mainland. 

The Crusaders (17-2, 9-2) received 15 points from Lola McGonigle in the loss.

Wildwood Catholic finishes out its conference slate with a game against Holy Spirit Thursday.

“We have to revert back to our core values and attack them,” DiPatri said. “We’ll come back to work (Wednesday) and do our best to get ready for Holy Spirit.”

Wildwood Catholic could see Mainland again in the CAL playoff tournament.

“Hopefully,” DiPatri said, “we will earn the right to see them again at some point in the future.”